Propulsion means for boats



y 5, 1931- I H. G. DAVIDSON 1,804,323

PROPULSION MEANS FOR BOATS Filed Oct. 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet '1 ATTORNEY WITNESS v May 5, 1931. H. c-s. DAVIDSON PROPULSION MEANS FOR BOATS Filed Oct. 4. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY WW ATTORNEY WITNESS y 5, 1931. H. G. DAVIDSON 1,804,323

PROPULSION MEANS FOR BOATS Filed Oct. 4, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WITNES I Egg/(H3011 W BY ATTORNEY Patented May 5, 1931 HARRY e. nnvrnson, or onrnen, FLORIDA PROPULSIGN'MELA NS FOE- BOATS Application filed October 4, 19529. Serial No. 397,304.

ldy invention relates to improvements in propulsion means for boats, more larly to propulsion means adapted to particuperform the steering operation, and it consists of the combinations, constructions, and ments here'ln described and claimed.

arrange- An obj eet of my invention is to provide a simple mechanism o'fthe so called out hoard type, which Will'transform a simple oseillatory movement, which may be imparted thereto oy ha'nd or other means producin g a suitable mo'vemen't, into the more complex movement, great-1y used 'forboat propulsion and oommon'ly' ealled a seullin'g motion.

further object of myinvention is to provule a boat operating mechanism that sup ports the arm of th'eop'erator, and the eight.

o'fhis body imposed thereon in an easy and comfortable fashion during the operation.

Afurther obje'e't'of my invention i vid'e sue h a mechanism as will he s to proreadily mountahle'on any boat of conventional form.

A further obj eet of my invention 'i s to pro vide a;propulsi0n means, which, when mount ed for operation, can quickly and easily be shifted from:aheatpropulsion positionin the Water to a non-propulsionposition out of the Water.

A further ob] eet of my invention 1 s to provide means for shifting the'position ofmy hoatipropulsionmean's relative to the'boat,-for

he purpose-of steering said boat.

I A further obje'etof my invention 1 vide a device of the type described simple'in construction, has few part not likeily=to getout oforder easily.

sto prowhieh is s, and is I Otherobjeots'and advantages will appear in the f'folloii 'ingspeoifioati on, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out :in the appended ol aims.

My invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, forming part of alieation in Whichi I a i u 0 V Figure 11s a side elevationalview vice according to invention, shown in op-.

erative position, i

this apof a de Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of a deviee'aeeordi'ng to my invention, W1 thereof bem'gshowninrseetion,

th parts Figure?) is a. top plan view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2,

of Figure 1,

Figured is aseetionalvieiv on the line 4-4 Figure his a sectional view' on the line 5'5 of Figure '1, I

Figure 6 is a :perspeetive'detail view-of a )or-tion of the device and Figure 7 is"aseetionaldetail view on the line i -70f Figure 2.

in earryingeut my. invention '1 make use ofa mountingframe 1 provided with zine-X- tended bifurcation, presenting the Walls 1a and '16 for engagement withthe'top ofthe stern-boardof boat. The 'Wfill 1a. is sprovidedwithsereW-threaded apertures, through whioh the elamp'n'iembers lo-and 1d,adjustalilyF'engage the stern board, for securely fastoning the mounting frame tosaid'b'o'ard.

This mounting frame is provided with two upstanding journal bearing portions 2 and 3, in which the mounting shaft :4: is non-rotatably jou'r-naled hymeans ofthe keys and key-Way's Stherein. This mounting shaft is provided "with the tivo longitudinally extending slots 6 and 7 ly to bedescribed.

for a purpose (present- Bot'ataloly journaled onthe mounting shaft l lo'y the 'journals 8 and "9,'is the supporting frame'10'providingthehearings for supporting the shafts 11,312, and 13, from opposing points in the 'vertieal walls of said frame. Fixedly related *to the shaft '11 and: adapted 'for rotation between thevertical Walls of the frame 10 is the flywheel 14, which is provided at the periphery thereof- With a hollowtubular portion 'l5 filled Withaliquid fortheipui pose; of adding to the inertia thereof. Nonrotatably mounted relative to shaft "11 and adj'aeenttheends of saidshaft'are the pinion gears 16 and 17 ada'pted for rotationon the outside of the vertical Walls-of the frame 10. These pinionsengag'e and are rotated by'the gears 18 and 19 'rotatably'mounted on the stub shafts 12 and f13-projeetingoutwardly fIOln"eaCl1 vertical Wall of the supporting frame 10, and providing extended bearings I V forthe bosses '18a,"19ao f'the gears 18 and 19 respectively U a p a These'b'ossesa're ofatpecuhar construction having the extended portions 18?) and 19b thereon essentially providing cranks, which are set 180 apart, for swivelly mounting the cooperating crankpins 180 and 190 thereon.

These crank pins are fixedly mounted in the sides 20 and 21 of the double yoked memyoke member is provided with a pin 25 fixedly related thereto and provided with a roller member 25a for engagement with a second arcuatel'y shaped slot 26. comprised in the operating lever 27 rotatably journaled at its center in the upper portion of the supporting frame 10 as indicated at 27a.

To impart an oscillating movement to this operating lever, I provide the actuating lever 28, fixedly related to the said operating lever at its center, and provided with a handle 28a for manually swinging said lever between the limits 29 and 30, prescribed therefor by the arcuately extending guide slot 31 comprised in the upper fore portion of the supporting frame 10. This frame 10 is provided with em larged walls 32, and 33 for the accommodation of lever 28.

For permitting the operator to rest his forearm in an easy manner during the opera tion, the arm rest and support 34 is provided. This arm rest is provided with a downwardly extending swivel pin as shown at 35, secured for turning and sliding movement by any suitable means in slot 36, extending longitudinally of frame 10. Pivotally mounted on this swivel pin 35 is the link 37 the other end of which is pivoted to the sliding guide 'bolt38, and held thereon by. any suitable means. This guide bolt 38 is swivelly and slidably mounted in guide slot 39. On the lower end of bolt 38 is pivotally'secured the link 40, the other end of which is pivotally mounted on clamp pin 41, which is clamped to lever 28.

Pivotally mounted as indicated at 42a on the supporting frame 10 is the key-supporting frame 42 normally urged upwards relative to said frame bythe spring means 42?) fastened to the frame 10 as shown at 420. Provided in the elbow of this key-supporting frame is the key 43, adapted to engage either one of the slots 6 or 7 in the mounting shaft 4. The key-supporting frame is further provided with portion 44 for a purpose soon to be described. V V

For the purpose of steering the boat I provide the front portion of the supporting frame 10 with a transversely extending rack 45, engaging the rack segment 46 as more clearly shown in Fig. 5. The rack 46 is piv- Med for oscillatory movement on the mounting frame by the means shown at 47, and is further provided with the actuating lever portion 48, providing handle 48a, for the purpose of permitting said rack segment to be manually oscillated about its pivot.

' For maintaining the steering means in any desired position, the mounting frame provides a series of arcuately extending and vertically projecting lugs 49, between any two of which the actuating lever 48 may be placed and held from swinging movement, thereby mounting the rack and attached frame 10, supporting the propulsion means, in fixed steering relation to the boat.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The handle 28a is swung back and forth in its guide slot 31, imparting to the operating lever 27, an oscillatory movement about its pivot 27a. This movement of the lever 27, causes the pin 25 to slide back and forth in the slot 26, imparting to the yoke 22 a variable oscillation or figure of eight movement about the fixed fulcrum 24 engaged in the slot 23, said movement being made more smooth and continuous by the interposition oftheflywheel 14 therein. understood by an examination of Fig. 2, wherein it is seen that one stroke of the actuating lever 27 will cause the crank pin 180 to move and rotate its wheel 18in one direction while the pin 190 will be moved and rotates its wheel 19 in the same direction. This motion causes the double yoke 22 to turn about its longitudinal axis and slide to a vertical position by means of the pin and slot means. This motion imparted to the gears 18 and 19 operating through the pinlOIlS 16 and 17 imparts one full revolution to the flywheel 14, the momentum of which serves to continue the rotation of gears 18 and 19 whereby serving to aid in the reverse movement of the actuating lever and the movment of the double yoke 22 from said vertical position to horizontal position op posite to that shown in Fig. 2. It can readily be seen that an effective sculling or figure of eight motion will be imparted to the propulsion member 22a. During this operation, the arm of the operator is suitably supported at 34, as shown in Figure 3, the said support 34 reciprocating back and forth and swivelling in the slot 36, suitably guided and moved by its connection through link 37, bolt 38, link 40 and clamp pin 41, to lever 28, thereby preserving a constant distance between the handle 28a and said arm support 34, whereby sliding movement between the arm of the operatorand the support 34 is prevented. It is also seen that this support 34 adds to the comfort of the operator by per- This movement is more clearly.

mitting him to rest the weight of the upper portion of his body thereon.

When the operator desires to raise the apparatus from its propulsion position shown in, Fig. 1 to non-propulsion position out of the ater, it is merely necessary for him to depress the member 42 by means of the flat portion l-il. thereon, thereby releasing the key ii-3 from the slot 6, raise the apparatus from the water pivotally on its shaft l and insert the key 4-3 in slot 7; thus securing the device in an inoperative position.

By oscillating the handle 48 the supporting frame 10, because of the engagement of rack thereon with rack 46, is slid along the mounting shaft l to variably position the propulsion mechanism for. steering means in a manner easily understood.

I claim 1. In a boat propulsion means, a propeller member, and means for actuating said propeller member, comprising an oscillating lever adapted for manual operation, an operating lever oscillated by said oscillating lever, a yoke member fixedly related to said propeller member and slidably related to said operating lever, crank means in offset relation, engaging the opposite sides of said yoke member, and a stationary pivot member slidably relatedrto said yoke member, whereby a soulling or figure eight motion is imparted to said propeller member.

2. In a boat propulsion means, a propeller member, and means for actuating said propeller member, comprising an oscillating lever adapted for manual operation, an operating lever oscillated by said oscillating lever, a yoke member fixedly related to said propeller member and slidably related to said operating lever, crank means in offset relation, engaging the opposite sides of said yoke member, an inertia member operativ-ely connected with said crank means, and a stationary pivot member slidably related to said yoke member, whereby a sculling or figure eight motion is imparted to said propeller member.

3. In a boat propulsion means, a propeller member, and means for actuating said propeller member, comprising an oscillating lever adapted for manual operation, an operating lever oscillated by said oscillating lever, a yoke member fixedly related to said propeller member and slidably related to said operating lever, crank means in offset relation, engaging the opposite sides of said yoke member, an inertia member operatively connected with said crank means, said inertia member consisting of a Wheel provided with a hollow fluid-containing tire and a stationary pivot member slidably related to said yoke member, whereby a sculling or figure eight motion is imparted to said propeller member.

4:. In a boat propulsion means, a propeller member, and means for actuating said "propeller member, comprising an oscillating lever adapted for manual operation, a stationary guide. slot limiting the; movement of :said oscillating lever, "an-operating lever oscillatedby said oscillating flever, a yoke member fixedly related to said-propeller member and slidably related to said operating lever,

crank means in offset relation, engagingthe opposite sides of'said yoke 'member, anda fixed-stationary pivot member slidably related to-said yoke :member, wherebya scullingorfigure eightmoti'on is imparted to saidstationary pivot member slidably related to said yoke member, whereby a scrilling or figure eight motion is'imparted to said propeller member. 1 i a '6. Ina boat propulsion means,inechanisn-i adapted to. propel the boat,and means for variably positirmin'g said propulsion mechanism relative to said boat, comprising an elongated shaft on avhichsaid propulsion mechanism is slidablymonnted, and-positioning meohanismfoi." sliding said propulsion mechanism on said shaft, whereby the steering operation is performed. i i

.7. a boat propulsion means, mechai'iism adapted to propel the boat, and means for variably positioning said: propulsion n'ie'chanism relative to said boat, comprising an elongated shaft on which said propulsion mechanism is slidably mounted, and positioning mechanism for slidingsaid :propulsion mechanism on said shaft, consisting of a rackmounted on said propulsion mechanism, a cooperating rack segment oscillatably mounted relative to said shaft and adapted for manual operation. whereby the steering operation is performed. I I

8. In a boat propulsion means, mechanism adapted to propel the boat, and means for variably positioning said propulsion media nism relative to said boat, comprising an elongated shaft on which said propulsion mechanism is slidably mounted, and positioning mechanism for sliding said propulsion mechanism on'said shaft, consisting of a rack mounted on saidpropulsion mechanism, I

a cooperating rack segment oscillatably mounted relative to said shaft, and adapted for manual operation, and detent means for said holding rack segment from oscillating movement, whereby the steering operation is performed.

9. In a boat propulsion means, a propeller member, and means for actuating said propeller member, comprising an oscillating lever, means for oscillating said lever, propeller member supporting means slidably related to said oscillating lever, a fixed guide member slidably related to said propeller member supporting means, and means engageable at points between said oscillating lever and said fixed guide member and on opposite sides of said propeller member supporting means for guiding said points 1n concentric paths of opposite phase, whereby a sculling motion is imparted to said propeller.

10. In a boat propulsion means, mechanism adapted to propel the boat, mounting means, comprising an elongated shaft, adapted to pivotally support said propulsion mechanism, and means for swinging said propulsion mechanism into operative and inoperative positions comprising portions of said shaft having slots, a key for engagement in said slots, and a lever mounted on said propulsion mechanism to support said key and aid in moving saidmechanism to operative and inoperative positions.

11. In a boat propulsion means, mechanism adapted to propel the boat, mounting means, comprising an elongated shaft, adapted to pivotally support said propulsion mechanism, and means for swinging said propulsion mechanism into operative and inoperative positions comprising portions of said shaft having slots, a key for engagement in said slots, and a lever pivoted to said propulsion mechanism to support said key, said lever being so disposed relative to said shaft and said propulsion mechanism that the Weight of said propulsion mechanism maintains said key in position in a desired slot.

12. In a boatv propulsion means, a propel ler member, and means for actuating said propeller member comprising an oscillating lever adapted for manual operation, a reciprocating arm rest, and a link interconnecting said lever and said arm rest.

13. In a boat propulsion means, a propeller member, means for actuating said propeller member comprising an oscillating hand lever, and a reciprocating arm rest connected to said lever to facilitate operation therof by an operator.

14. In a boat propulsion means, a propeller member, means for actuating said propeller member comprising an oscillating hand lever, and a pivotally mounted reciprocating arm rest connected to said lever to facilitate operation thereof by an operator.

HARRY G. DAVIDSON. 

